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Prevalence and characteristics of physical abuse in children : A retrospective study in greater Cairo

Thesis

Last updated: 06 Feb 2023

Subjects

-

Tags

Forensic Medicine & Clinical Toxicology

Advisors

Shukri, Dina A. , Quttb, Heba G. , El-Desouqi, Nivin A.

Authors

El-Hasan, Essam Ahmad Aly

Accessioned

2017-07-12 06:40:11

Available

2017-07-12 06:40:11

type

M.Sc. Thesis

Abstract

Background: Child physical abuse represents a serious threat to the health and well-being of the pediatric population. This study aims at investigating child physical abuse in Greater Cairo area (Egypt) during 2008-2009. The study focuses on prevalence of child physical abuse (CPA) committed by any perpetrators and aims at analyzing the perpetrator relation to the victim and the characteristics of the injuries and their fates, if they lead to death or not, and the geographical distributions. Methods: All medicolegal reports of physical child abuse (0 – 17 years old) in Greater Cairo Area from January 2008 to December 2009 were examined. Results: Our research yielded that, there was 193 cases of CPA in the study period and the prevalence of physical child abuse in 2008 was 12/1,000,000 and in 2009 it was 14/1,000,000. The majority of the abused children were in primary school age (n=71) 36.8%. In infancy age group, fatal CPA is at the highest level (n=21) 95.5%. Also, it was found that the number of male victims (n=119) 61.7% was higher than female victims (n=74) 38.3%. Most of the cases of CPA are of low SES (n=141) 73.1%. And the majority of the cases of CPA were injured severely (n=89) 46.1%. Only about (n=27) 14% of the studied cases suffered from injuries more than one time. This study showed that (n=95) 49.2% of the victims presented more than one type of injury. It was also found that the unknowns were the prime perpetrators (n=101) 52%. The results showed that (n=17) 77.3% of the studied children in infancy age group are abused by their mothers, and there was strong association between the age group of the victims of CPA and the perpetrator (P - <.001). The most common manifestation of physical abuse was bruises (n=84) 43.5% and the most affected site was the head/face and neck. The studied cases showed that there was cerebral injuries in (n=42) 21.8%, visceral injuries in (n=16) 8.3% and fractures in (n=31) 16.1%. As regards, the commonest cause of death among the child homicide was head injury/cerebral hemorrhage (n=42) 53%. Conclusions: The numbers of physically abused children that have been reported by the Medicolegal Authority have been increased during the investigated period. The commonest non-accidental injury to the soft tissues was bruising, which considered as warning sign for CPA.

Issued

1 Jan 2011

DOI

http://dx.doi.org/10.21473/iknito-space/35131

Details

Type

Thesis

Created At

28 Jan 2023